Este perro es cariñoso.

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Breakdown of Este perro es cariñoso.

• ser: to be
• el perro: the dog
• cariñoso: affectionate

Questions & Answers about Este perro es cariñoso.

Why do we use este and not esta or esto?

In Spanish, este is the masculine demonstrative adjective. Since perro is a masculine noun, we use este instead of esta (feminine) or esto (neuter).

Why do we say es instead of está?

Spanish has two verbs for to be: ser and estar. We use ser (here, es) for inherent or more permanent characteristics (like being affectionate). Estar usually refers to temporary states or locations. So, es cariñoso means he is by nature affectionate.

Does the adjective cariñoso match the gender of perro?

Yes. Adjectives in Spanish often change to match a noun’s gender and number. Since perro is masculine and singular, cariñoso is also masculine and singular. For a feminine noun (e.g., perra), you would say cariñosa.

Could I say Este es un perro cariñoso instead?

Absolutely. Este es un perro cariñoso means This is an affectionate dog. It has the same idea, but it introduces the noun perro after the verb es. Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings.

What if I wanted to emphasize that the dog is being affectionate only right now?

You would use estar to show a temporary or current state. For example: Este perro está muy cariñoso hoy (This dog is very affectionate today/at the moment). This implies that the dog’s affection is notable right now, rather than describing his general nature.